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Stephen Battaglia is an Year 11 student at Carey Grammar School. He was brought to fame when he hugged the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Howard with a screwdriver in his hand.
The Hug
The hugging incident occured on John Howard's 67th birthday. As John Howard went on his usual morning walk, he was met by some rowers, who sang him Happy Birthday. Stephen then went to give the Prime Minister a congratulatory hug, unaware that he was holding a screwdriver in his hand. Stephen claims it was a spur-of-the-moment act, and he had forgotten that he was holding the screwdriver. Stephen has said that "It's first time I've ever done anything like this. I'm not really the kind of guy that jumps up on stage and sings a song just at a bar. I'm like the shy guy," he said.
Security Scare
When Stephen Battaglia went to hug Mr Howard, he was still clutching a screwdriver which he had been using to repair a boat rudder. That brought him to the attention of the Prime Ministers's security staff and the media. In the news videos, you can see a member of the security staff doing nothing as Stephen rushed passed him. While there was no suggestion Battaglia had any malicious intent, newspapers questioned why Mr Howard's security had failed to stop him. Mr Howard's office declined to comment.
Media Reaction
Since the hug he has been mentioned in the SMH, The Age, On Melbourne Radio station Triple M & every commercial television station in Australia. He has even been mentioned in South African News. On the 2nd of August, Craig Reucassel, of ABC's The Chaser's War on Everything, approached John Howard during his early morning walk on the Gold Coast branding a oversize axe. They were making fun Stephen Battaglia's hug with his screwdriver.
Further reading
- Jordan Chong (27 July 2006). "Security screwdriver scare". Sydney Morning Herald.
- missingauthor (missingdate). "Howard hug ... with a twist". missingpublisher.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - missingauthor (missingdate). "Schoolboy scares PM with screwdriver". missingpublisher.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - missingauthor (missingdate). "Stephen and his screwdriver". missingpublisher.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - AFP (27 July 2006). "Aus PM in birthday hug scare". News24.
- AAP (27 July 2006). "Security red-faced after PM's bear hug". Independent Online.
- Nick Leys and Andrew Fraser (28 July 2006). "Just toolin' around". The Australian.
- Carla Danaher (28 July 2006). "Boy just happy to see PM". Herald Sun.
- Jordan Chong (28 July 2006). "Mother's cry over that hug". The Age.
- AAP (28 July 2006). "Howard says screwdriver was no threat". Sydney Morning Herald.
- AAP (28 July 2006). "Screwdriver boy famous". The Border Morning Mai.
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